CSO Information & Announcements

CSO Program Videos Now Available Online!

The Career Services Office is pleased to announce that videos of our programming are now available to be viewed online. Most of our programming will be available on our website within 1-2 days of the original program date and will remain available for viewing for 2-3 weeks, due to limited server space. Program videotapes will still be available in our office. A password is required to view these programs. Please call our office at 312-906-5200 or email kentcso@kentlaw.edu for the username and password.

To watch videos of our programming, go to the CSO's web page, click on the right hand navigation bar "For Students" and select "Watch Program Videos." Or, click here to be taken directly to the page.

Fall Office Hours

The Career Services Office regular hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. Evening appointments with career counselors are available by appointment only on Wednesdays, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Please call the office at (312) 906-5200 to arrange a time or email, stating the times that you are available, to kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

Summer Experience Surveys

Please take a few minutes to evaluate your summer job on Symplicity. By doing so, you can provide invaluable information to the members of the class behind you. Just click on "Profile," then on the "Evaluations" tab, and then on the "Add New" button.

On-Campus Interviews

Programming

Alternatives to OCI Series

Small & Midsize Firms with Donna Gerson - Wednesday, October 10th
Find out what firms seek in applicants, average salaries, how to identify and research employers, and interviewing.

Alternatives to OCI: Small & Midsize Firms with Donna Gerson

Donna Gerson, the nationally-renowned author of Choosing Small, Choosing Smart: Job Search Strategies for Lawyers in the Small Firm Market, will speak at Chicago-Kent College of Law on Wednesday, October 10th from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm in Room 590.

Gerson's talk will include:

How to decide if a small to mid-size firm setting is a good fit for you

How to target small and mid-sized firms

How to build your personal network

How to set yourself apart in resumes, cover letters and interviews

PLUS free book raffle and prizes!

In addition to her presentation, Gerson will be scheduling 20-minute, one-on-one meetings with J.D. students and alums throughout the day. This is a unique opportunity to get resume, cover letter and networking advice from an expert in small to mid-sized firm hiring.

To sign up for a personal meeting with Donna Gerson, J.D. students and alumni should contact the Career Services Office by stopping by Room 360, calling 312-906-5200, or emailing kentcso@kentlaw.edu. Slots will be assigned on a first-come first-served basis.

ABA Trust & Estate and Real Property Careers Program

Friday, October 26, 2007, 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois. A valid state-issued photo ID is required for entry to the ABA offices.

The ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law is sponsoring a free program for all law students seeking careers in Trust and Estate or Real Property law. Panelists will share information about their own exciting careers in these fields and answer student questions. Students will also have an opportunity to network with panelists and Section members over hors devours and refreshments.

1L Orientation to Career Services

The Career Services Office will hold an orientation for first year students on Tuesday, October 23rd at noon in the Auditorium and 5:15 p.m. in Room 370 . This program will provide you with information about the job posting system, options and opportunities for summer employment, and discuss the typical hiring timeline for first year students. You only need to attend one session.

National Security: Careers in a Changing World

The world of national security has changed drastically since September 11, 2001. The government has created new federal agencies and passed new regulations that affect everything from suspected terrorists to routine business operations. These changes have opened new career paths for law students. Come and hear what the professionals are saying. October 12th, 2007, 9am – 12pm, ABA Building, 321 N. Clark, Chicago/

National Security Career Panel: Panelists include Jeremy Strozer, the Department of State; Patrick Crawford, James Lee Witt and Associates; David Habich, the Federal Bureau of Investigations; Joyce Marks, The United Way; and Steven Siros, Jenner & Block. Guest Speaker: Richard Friedman, President of the National Strategy Forum, will provide a general overview of national security and discuss possible careers.

CBA YLS Pro Bono & Community Service Fair

Meet with representatives from over 40 of Chicago’s legal aid, pro bono and community service organizations to network with likeminded professionals and uncover the volunteer opportunity you have been seeking. Refreshments will be served. The Fair is Thursday, October 11, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., and hosted by Jenner & Block LLP, 330 N. Wabash, 40th Floor. The Chicago Bar Foundation, Exelon, Jenner & Block and Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) are co-sponsors of the Fair. To rsvp for the Fair, contact the YLS Hotline at 312/554-2032 or email yls@chicagobar.org (include your name, CBA member number (if you are a member – you do not need to be a member to attend), address and phone). Non-CBA members are welcome!

Take a Break Series: Big Firm v. Small Firm (with Alumni Office)

Alumni practitioners will chat informally about their careers, providing students the opportunity to learn about the pros and cons of working for big firms versus small firms.

Preparing your Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Application

The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) offers $5,000 internships for students who spend their summer at one of their designated Chicago-area legal aid organizations. Last summer, five Chicago-Kent students received PILI internships, and last spring three Chicago-Kent students received semester PILI internships. Hear from an employer who reviews PILI applications and several students who were successful at obtaining a PILI internship. 2L’s can apply for a PILI beginning on October 15, while 1L’s can apply beginning on December 1. Monday, October 15, 3pm, in room 210.

How to Network at Receptions

Learn how to network at receptions. Tuesday, October 16th at noon in room 370.

Meet the Public Service Employers Reception

Learn about non-profit and government agency job opportunities at this reception. Tuesday, November 13, 2007; 5:00-7:00pm, at Loyola University Chicago, 25 East Pearson, 15th Floor, Kasbeer Hall. This reception is a joint project of the Chicago Area Law School Consortium, which includes Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Careers in ERISA Litigation

Come to an informal get together on October 31st hosted by the American Bar Association’s Section of Labor and Employment Law with several ERISA lawyers who are presenting topics at the ERISA Litigation National Institute, co-sponsored by the Joint Committee on Employee Benefits and the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel on November 1-2, 2007. The Regional Director of the DOL Employee Benefits Security Administration Chicago Office, Steve Haugen, will also be on hand to talk about careers in the government. Please join us on October 31st between 5:30 and 7 pm, at The John Marshall Law School,
315 S. Plymouth Court, room 3east, to find out more about this dynamic and expanding field of practice. Dress casually, but bring your resume anyway! RSVP to Nancy Matthews, (202) 662-8640 or matthewsn@staff.abanet.org

Taking the Health Law Career Path: Student Conference & Job Fair

The American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh School of Law will cosponsor the upcoming First Annual Health Law Student Conference, Taking the Health Law Career Path: Student Conference and Job Fair on October 19, 2007 at the University of Pittsburgh.

This conference is a brand new outreach program intended to help health law students network and expose them to the myriad of options present within the health law field. We would like to take this opportunity ask you to share this unique program with any students you have you show a strong interest in health law. The conference will allow students to explore possible career paths and network with other students and professionals who share similar interests.

Employment Opportunities

Deadline for Spring Clerkships at the Illinois Attorney General is Nov. 1st

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Illinois, representing all state officials and agencies and enforcing the laws on behalf of the people of Illinois. In this role, the Government Representation Division provides legal representation to state employees, officials and agencies in all cases in state and federal trial courts and administrative tribunals. Additionally, as part of this work, the Civil Appeals Division represents state agencies, employees and officials in the state and federal courts of appeal.

Applications for the Attorney General's clerkship program are available in the CSO or at the Attorney General's website. The deadline for spring clerkships is November 1st.

ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program

The Judicial Intern Opportunity Program is a summer internship program open to all first or second year minority or financially disadvantaged law students who want to do legal research and writing for state or federal judges in Illinois, Texas, Washington DC, Miami, Phoenix, and California. Interns will receive an award of $1,500. The time commitment can vary by student, subject to a six-week minimum. Students will be expected to coordinate their schedule with their individual judges and to work the hours required by each judge. Students are asked to submit a completed application, legal writing sample and a statement of interest. Detailed program information and applications are available at the program website. Applications will be accepted beginning October 15th for second year students and December 1st for first year students.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)2008 Summer Honors Law Program

The SEC is currently accepting applications from second year law students for the 2008 Summer Honors Law Program. Last year's 2L's were thrilled with the level and diversity of the projects that they received. Please refer students to our website for a description of the work of our primary divisions and offices: (http://www.sec.gov/about/whatwedo.shtml).
In addition to working with SEC attorneys, students will participate in enrichment programming and social activities with other law and graduate business students also participating in SEC's honors internship program.

Program Components:
• Unprecedented access to the SEC Chairman and Commissioners through Commission hearings, panel discussions and receptions.
• Workshops and Presentations: Past presentations have included lectures on Securities Fraud on the Internet; Detection and Prosecution of Insider Trading; An Overview of Federal Securities Laws; an Introduction to SEC trial work and a presentation on Derivatives among others.
• Mentoring program: students are paired with an SEC attorney who provides them with additional insight and guidance throughout the internship experience.
Candidates should apply online via the following link by October 31, 2007 (DC) and December 10, 2007 (Regional):
http://www.avuedigitalservices.com/sec-sp/applicant.html

Selections are made through a committee process; the SEC's Summer Honors Hiring Committee will begin reviewing applications in October and candidates will be interviewed telephonically.

7th Circuit Staff Law Clerk Positions Available for Fall 2008

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit will accept applications beginning September 4, 2007 for the position of staff law clerk for a two-year term starting in August 2008.

Staff Law Clerks work in a highly collegial environment with other recent law school graduates and lawyers coming from judicial clerkships or private practice, as well as with more experienced supervisory attorneys. Staff law clerks learn a wide variety of substantive and practical lawyering skills through discussions with the judges and other staff law clerks. A structured writing program provides review and evaluation of written work.

Staff law clerks work directly with all of the judges of the court, assisting them in the research and disposition of appeals in much the same way as the judges' personal law clerks. Principal tasks include drafting bench memoranda and proposed orders concerning various areas of federal law, but staff law clerks regularly perform other duties unique to the office, such as orally presenting substantive motions to individual judges. In some instances, staff law clerks assist individual judges with their own chambers' caseload.

Several staff law clerks work in a motions group that reviews all substantive motions filed in pending appeals. The motions attorneys research these motions and recommend dispositions for panels of judges. Motions attorneys also draft bench memoranda and proposed orders for the judges.

New York County District Attorney’s Office Summer Intern Program

The Summer Intern Program is a way for first and second year law students to gain first-hand experience in trial and appellate litigation in the public sector. The ten-week program begins in early June. Second year participants in the program are afforded the opportunity to apply early for permanent positions as assistant district attorneys.

Law interns work closely with assistant district attorneys. Depending on assignment, summer interns help prosecutors prepare for grand jury presentations, hearings, and trials. Summer law interns also research and write appellate and trial briefs, and are assigned to work on complex long-term investigations. In most cases, summer interns have an opportunity to second-seat an assistant district attorney on trial.

First and second year law students who are interested in being considered for the summer intern position should mail a cover letter and resume to Robin R. Edwards, the Administrator of the Legal Hiring Unit, One Hogan Place, New York, NY 10013. Resumes are accepted beginning December 1 2007 and will be accepted through March 1, 2008. Although most interviews are conducted from February through April, early interviewing is offered for law students who have received offers prior to the start of hiring season. Applicants are asked to bring to interviews a writing sample, a list of three professional or academic references with telephone numbers and an official law school transcript. Offers are made on a rolling basis with most offers being made by the end of April.

Law students receive stipends of $500 per week. In the past interns have arranged for work-study funding and public interest fellowships to offset expenses.

Fellowships & Scholarships

The National Center on Philanthropy and the Law Fellowships

The National Center on Philanthropy and the Law (NCPL) at New York University School of Law is offering the following two Fellowships in Nonprofit Law.

1.The Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellowship in Nonprofit Law at the Vera Institute of Justice (The RBF Fellowship); and
2. The National Center on Philanthropy and the Law Fellowship in Nonprofit Law at New York University's Office of Legal Counsel (The NCPL Fellowship).

The RBF and NCPL Fellowships will each be awarded to one graduate of an accredited U.S. Law School. More information and an application can be found at www.law.nyu.edu/ncpl. Please note that completed applications must be received by the NCPL no later than December 7, 2007. If you have any questions, please contact Erin Ortiz at (212) 998-6168 or erin.ortiz@nyu.edu.

PSLawNet Fellowship Corner

Interested in pursuing a fellowship
upon graduation? Then be sure to check out PSLawNet's
new "Fellowship Corner" which includes
the full text of Yale's Fellowship Application
Tips for 2002-2003, along with the expanded
Appendix listing print and online fellowship
resources. The site also contains a Fellowship
Calendar with a chronological listing of application
deadlines--a big help for potential applicants
in planning and preparing their materials. Students
can access the Fellowship Corner at the top
of the left sidebar menu on the PSLawNet
home page.

Job Fairs

Resources

Join the International Trademark Association (INTA)

Since 1878, members of the International Trademark Association (INTA) have shared a common interest in the protection and development of trademarks and trademark law. Members rely on the Association to educate them, represent them and promote their interests throughout the international trademark community. Join INTA as a student member for $25 and receive current trademark law information, helpful research materials, in-depth education, networking opportunities and career development resources, including access to INTA's Job Bank and Membership Director. To join, go to www.inta.org/go/membership.

International Career Employment Weekly Online

International Career Employment Weekly's goal is to make it easy for international professionals to keep abreast of all current job opportunities in their field. They collect information on current international job openings with governments, government contractors, United Nations agencies and other intergovernmental organizations, private voluntary organizations working overseas, corporations involved in international trade and finance, engineering firms, associations, foundations, student exchange organizations, universities, and state governments and present that information to job seekers in a clear and concise format.

The Career Services Office subscribes to this resource in an online format. The username and password changes with every issue. For the most recent username and password, contact kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

PSLawNet

PSLawNet is a premier resource for career-related information in legal and law-related public interest work. Students and alumni from over 170 law schools search our site every day to find internships, fellowships, pro bono opportunities, and jobs in public service. Chicago-Kent College of Law is a member school, therefore you have unlimited access to search the database for FREE. The PSLawNet website is filled with useful resources for public interest-minded law students and graduates, as well as those who may simply be exploring their options. Students can access PSLawNet here: PSLawNet home page. On the home page, click on “sign-up now” to create an account using your email address and your own password. List Chicago-Kent College of Law as your school.

Law Crossing - Free Access For Students

Law students have free access to LawCrossing.com to access their collection of legal job postings. To get access, register with your kentlaw.edu e-mail address, enter the promotional code "kent2008" and identify yourself as a student.